ReviewFrontiers in microbiology2026
Insights into the mechanisms of infection transmission via inanimate surfaces.
Review in Frontiers in microbiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Inanimate surfaces are critical reservoirs for pathogenic microorganisms, increasing the risk of infectious disease transmission across healthcare, household, and public settings. This comprehensive review synthesizes current evidence on microbial contamination mechanisms, examining the complex interplay between pathogen characteristics, surface properties, and environmental conditions that govern fomite-mediated transmission. Contamination sources are diverse, originating from human shedding, respiratory secretions, environmental reservoirs, including airborne particles and water drainage systems, as well as contaminated materials such as medications, medical devices, and personal items. Pathogen persistence on surfaces ranges from hours to months, influenced by microorganism-specific attributes such as biofilm formation capacity, spore production, and structural characteristics that distinguish bacterial, viral, and fungal species. Environmental parameters, including temperature, relative humidity, pH, and light exposure, influence patterns of survival. Moisture-rich environments, in particular, enable persistence of Gram-negative bacteria and biofilm development. Surface characteristics, notably porosity, roughness, and material composition, create distinct microenvironments affecting microbial adhesion and persistence. Non-porous surfaces such as stainless steel and plastic generally support extended bacterial viability, whereas porous materials exhibit complex, pathogen-dependent survival patterns. Evidence from experimental studies, epidemiological investigations, and mathematical modeling confirms that inanimate surfaces are significant transmission vectors, particularly in healthcare settings where they contribute to 20-40% of healthcare-associated infections. Critical knowledge gaps persist regarding viable but non-culturable organisms, real-world transmission dynamics, and optimal cleaning/disinfection strategies. Future research priorities include developing advanced detection methods, refining cleaning and disinfection protocols, validating antimicrobial surface technologies, and establishing predictive models of transmission.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.